The Nervous System Cranial Nerves carry impulses to and from the
brain.
 The master control and communication
system of the body.
The nervous system has three overlapping
functions:
1. Sensory Input- The gathered information
It uses its millions of sensory receptors to monitor
changes occurring both inside and outside of
the body. These changes are called stimuli
2. Integration- it process and interprets the
sensory input and decides what should
be done at each moment.
3. Motor output- via motor output, it then
causes a response or effect by activating
muscles or glands.
Organization of the Nervous System
Structural Classification
 It includes all the nervous system organs,
it has two subdivisions: The Central
Nervous System and Peripheral Nervous
System.
The Central Nervous System (CNS)
 Consists of the brain and spinal cord w/c
occupy the dorsal body cavity.
 Acts as the integrating and command
centers of the nervous system
 They interpret the incoming sensory
information and issue instructions based
on past experience and current
conditions.
The Peripheral Nervous System (PNS)
 Consist all of the parts of the nervous
system outside CNS.
 Consist mainly the NERVES that extends
from the spinal cord and brain.
These nerves serves as communication lines.
Spinal Nerves carry impulses to and from the
spinal cord.
Functional Classification
 The functional classification scheme is
concerned only with PNS structures.
Divided by two principal subdivisions
The Sensory Division-”Afferent” consist of nerves
that convey impulses to the CNS from sensory
receptors located in various parts of the body.
 The sensory division keeps the CNS
constantly informed of event going on
both inside and outside the body.
Somatic Sensory Fibers
The sensory fibers delivering impulses from
the skin, skeletal and muscles and joints.
Visceral Sensory Fibers
Transmitting impulses from visceral organs.
The Motor Division- “Efferent” carries impulses
from the CNS to effector organs, the muscles
and glands.
Nervous Tissue: Structure and Function
Supporting Cells
 Supporting cells in the CNS are lumped
together as NEUROGLIA, literally “Nerve
Glue” also called glial cells or glia.
CNS Neuroglia:
 Astrocytes – abundant star shaped cells
that account for nearly half of neutral
tissue.
- Also helps to protect the chemical
environment in the brain by “mopping
up” leaked potassium ions.
 Microglia – spiderlike phagocytes that
monitor health of nearby neurons and
dispose of debris, such as dead brain
cells and bacteria.
  Ependymal Cells – neuroglia that line the
central cavities of the brain and spinal
cord.
 Oligodendrocytes – neuroglia that wraps
their flat extensions tightly around the
nerve fibers, producing fatty insulating
coverage called myelin sheath
Although neuroglia somewhat resemble
neurons they are not able to transmit nerve
impulses. Neuroglia never lose their ability to
divide, whereas gliomas or tumors formed by
neuroglia.
Supporting cells in the PNS
 Schwann Cells – forms the myelin sheaths
around nerve fibers in the PNS
 Satellite Cells – act as protective
cushioning cells of peripheral neuron cell
bodies
Neurons
- Also called Nerve Cells; are highly
specialized to transmit messages.
Cell Body
- Cell body is the metabolic center of
neuron.
- The cytoplasm surrounding the nucleus
contains the usual organelles, except
that it lacks centrioles.
The rough ER called Nissl Bodies and Neurofibrils
filaments that are important in maintaining cell
shape are particularly abundant in the cell
body.
Process – the arm like process of FIBERS vary in
length from microscopic to about 7 feet in the
tallest humans.
Dendrites – neuron process that convey
incoming messages toward the cell body.
Axons – generates nerve impulses and typically
conduct them away from the cell body.
Axon Hillock – a cone like region of the cell
where axon arises.
Axon Terminals – contains hundreds of tiny
vesicles, or membranous sacs that contain
chemicals called neurotransmitters.
Synaptic Cleft – a tiny gap between axon
terminal and neuron.
Synapse – an impulse is transmitted from one
neuron to another.
Myelin Sheaths – most long nerve fibers are
covered with whitish fatty material called
myelin w/c has a waxy appearance.
- Protects and insulates the fibers and
increases the transmission rate of nerve
impulses.
Neurilemma – part of the Schwann cell, external
to the myelin sheath.
Nodes of Raniver – gaps and indentations of
myelin sheath.
Homeostatic Imbalance
Multiple Sclerosis – it gradually destroys the
myelin sheath around CNS fibers by converting
them to hardened sheaths called scleroses
Terminology – clusters of neuron cell bodies and
collections of nerve fibers are named differently
in the CNS and the PNS.
Nuclei – cell bodies found in the CNS in clusters.
Ganglia – small collections of cell bodies.
Tracts – bundles of nerve fibers running through
the CNS.
Nerves – bundle of nerve fibers sunning through
PNS.
White matter and Gray matter refer respectively
to myelinated versus unmyelinated regions of
the CNS.
White Matter – consist of dense collections of
myelinated fibers (tracts)
Gray Matter – contains mostly unmyelinated.